Danny Moonie, communications/knowledge management specialist for OECS, reports: Works has begun in Soufrière, Dominica, on the construction of small instream wetlands and the installation of septic tanks under the EU‑funded BioSPACE Project. The EC$2.23 million initiative aims to improve wastewater management, reduce environmental contamination, and protect the coastal and marine ecosystems that support livelihoods, fisheries, and tourism in the Soufrière community.
The works, executed by EnviroPlus Consulting Inc. with supervision from Alpha Engineering & Design, draw heavily on local labor and include filter bed systems and plant‑based treatment processes to naturally treat gray and black water before it reaches coastal areas. The Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation, the Soufrière Scott’s Head Marine Reserve, the Department of Fisheries, and community partners are supporting the project.
Moonie also reported the handover of insulated ice coolers to fishers in Mahaut and Layou, part of BioSPACE’s wider effort to strengthen sustainable livelihoods while promoting biodiversity conservation across small island developing states. Representatives from Mahaut and the Layou Women Farmers and Fishers Group welcomed the coolers as a boost to fish handling and storage — particularly for products such as titiwi — and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy encouraged proper maintenance to ensure longterm community benefit.
Also, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) have concluded a three-day workshop aimed at transforming Dominica’s sea moss industry into a cornerstone of the regional blue economy. Held in spring 2026, the training focused on elevating local production to international food safety and business standards. This initiative is part of the Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity Project.
The training program provided a comprehensive deep dive into the value chain. On the first day, participants mastered post-harvest food safety and quality assurance, focusing on hazard analysis critical control point principles and sanitation standard operating procedures — both of which are non-negotiable for accessing high-value foreign markets. The second day transitioned to business management and cost of production analysis, equipping farmers with the financial tools needed for long-term sustainability.
Finally, regional decision-makers and stakeholders convened in Dominica on May 26, 2026, for a SARSEA Project workshop focused on strengthening technical collaboration and advancing coordinated regional responses to the increasing impacts of sargassum across the Caribbean.
The workshop highlighted the growing environmental, social, and economic impacts of recurring sargassum events across the Caribbean, particularly on fisheries, tourism, public health, marine biodiversity, and coastal communities.
